Edison council to vote again on Cablevision contract

Edison must vote again on a 15-year contract to extend Cablevision's franchise in the township after officials realized the council's vote on the issue last week was not legal.

Township Clerk Reina Murphy said since council is on its summer schedule, the new vote will probably have to wait until Aug. 13.

Last week the council was split 3-3 on whether to renew the franchise after a heated, two-hour hearing on the contract. Councilman Sudhansu Prasad abstained from the vote. Jeffrey Lehrer, the township attorney, initially said Prasad's vote counted with those in favor of the contract and it passed. But Murphy said after further research, Lehrer found Prasad's vote should not count among the "yeas" and the vote failed.

At last week's meeting about a dozen residents complained bitterly about Cablevision, contending their bills were too high. The 15-year contract promises to pay Edison $40,000 upfront in addition to the annual franchise fee, which was estimated at $250,000 per year.